Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

First Encounter with the Authorities in Israel

Chapter 3

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Walk!^{[a] 1} One day, Peter and John were on their way to the temple for the hour of prayer at three o’clock in the afternoon.^{[b] 2} A man who had been crippled from his birth was carried there every day and laid at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate^[c] so that he could beg for alms from those who entered the temple.

³ When this man saw Peter and John about to enter into the temple, he asked them for alms. ⁴ Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said to him, “Look at us!” ⁵ He looked at them attentively, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

⁷ Then Peter grasped him by the right hand and helped him to get up. Immediately, his feet and ankles were strengthened. ⁸ He jumped up, stood straight, and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ When all the people there saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the man who used to sit and beg for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

¹¹ Peter Speaks to the People.^[d] While he continued to cling to Peter and John, all the people came running in amazement toward them in Solomon’s Portico, as it is called. ¹² When Peter saw the people assembling, he addressed them:

“Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had enabled this man to walk by our own power or holiness? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant^[e] Jesus whom you handed over and disowned in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ The author of life^[f] you put to death, but God raised him from the dead. Of this we are witnesses.

¹⁶ “By faith in his name, this man whom you see here and who is known to you has been made strong. Faith in him has made him completely well in the presence of all of you.

¹⁷ “Now I am aware, brethren, that you acted out of ignorance as did your rulers. ¹⁸ God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the Prophets, revealing that his Christ would suffer. ¹⁹ Repent, therefore, and be converted so that your sins may be wiped away, ²⁰ that a time of refreshment may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, that is, Jesus. ²¹ He must remain in heaven until the time comes for the universal restoration announced by God in ages past through his holy Prophets. ²² For Moses said,

²⁴ “Furthermore, all the Prophets who have spoken, from Samuel onward, predicted these days.

²⁵ “You are the heirs of the Prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ²⁶ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your wicked ways.”

Chapter 4

First Phase of the Trial: A Warning.^{[g] 1} While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard,^[h] and the Sadducees came over to them, ² greatly annoyed that they were teaching and proclaiming to the people the resurrection of the dead through Jesus. ³ Therefore, they arrested them and placed them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ However, many of those who had listened to their message became believers, their total approaching five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,^[i] Alexander, and all who belonged to the high priestly family. ⁷ They then brought the apostles before them and asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if you are interrogating us today in regard to a good deed done to someone who was crippled and how he was healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified, and whom God raised from the dead, that this man standing before you was cured. ¹¹ This is

¹² There is no salvation in anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.”

¹³ They were amazed to see the fearlessness shown by Peter and John and to discover that they were uneducated ordinary men. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, ¹⁴ but, when they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they could not say anything in reply. ¹⁵ They ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin discussed the matter.

¹⁶ Then they said, “What are we going to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem is aware that a notable sign has been worked through them, and we clearly cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop the news from spreading any further among the people, let us issue them a warning never again to speak to anyone in his name.”

¹⁸ Therefore, they summoned them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ However, Peter and John answered them, “You be the judges about whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God. ²⁰ We cannot possibly refrain from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

²¹ After threatening them once again, they released them, for they could find no way to punish them inasmuch as the people were praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

²³ The Community’s Prayer for the Apostles.^[j] As soon as they were released, they went back^[k] to the community and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and of everything that is in them, ²⁵ you said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our ancestor David, your servant,

²⁷ “Indeed, in this very city both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel plotted against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your decree had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, O Lord, be aware of their threats, and grant that your servants may proclaim your word with all boldness, ³⁰ as you stretch out your hand to heal and as signs and wonders are accomplished through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ When they had finished their prayer, the place where they were gathered together shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the word of God fearlessly.

³² Life of the First Community—II.^[l] The entire community of believers was united in heart and soul. No one claimed any of his possessions as his own, for everything was held in common. ³³ With great power, the apostles bore witness to the resurrection^[m] of the Lord Jesus, and they were all greatly respected. ³⁴ There was never anyone among them in need, because those who were the owners of lands or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, ³⁵ and lay them at the feet of the apostles, to be distributed to any who were in need.

³⁶ Barnabas.^[n] One such instance involved Joseph, a Levite and a native of Cyprus, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement.” ³⁷ He sold a field that belonged to him and then brought the money to the apostles and laid it at their feet.